Paper sheet processing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A paper sheet processing apparatus that performs a recognizing process of a paper sheet includes: a paper sheet recognition sensor ( 11 ) that reads an image of a paper sheet; a number-attribute information memory ( 131 ) that stores number attribute information including number recognition conditions for recognizing a number given to a paper sheet; and an image processing unit ( 134 ) and a character recognizing unit ( 135 ) that recognize a number of a paper sheet from an image read by the paper sheet recognition sensor ( 11 ), based on number recognition conditions stored in the number-attribute information memory ( 131 ).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser.No. 12/678,642 filed Mar. 17, 2010, which is the National StageApplication of International Application No. PCT/JP2007/068876, filedSep. 27, 2007, the entire contents of all are incorporated herein byreference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a paper sheet processing apparatus thatrecognizes paper sheets such as banknotes, checks, bank drafts, and giftcertificates.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, in an apparatus that performs authentication ofbanknotes, there has been known an apparatus that stores serial numbersof counterfeit notes such as duplicate notes and forged notes in amemory, to compare and match a serial number read from a taken-inbanknote with serial numbers of counterfeit notes stored in the memory,and when the serial number of the taken-in banknote coincides with aserial number of a counterfeit note, judges that the taken-in banknoteis a counterfeit note (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Further, toincrease the detection accuracy of counterfeit notes, judgment of thelength, magnetic pattern, and image pattern of the banknote is alsoperformed as well as the serial number, and when it is judged that thebanknote is genuine in all judgment processes, the taken-in banknote isjudged to be genuine and valid.

Furthermore, conventionally, with respect to a system in which automaticteller machines of a banking facility are connected to a host computer,there has been proposed a technique in which each of the automaticteller machines records a serial number of a deposited or dispensedbanknote in association with an account number of a person who depositsor withdraws money, and the host computer reads information recorded bythe automatic teller machine to perform various types of analyses suchas a circulation analysis of banknotes and extraction of stolenbanknotes (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

-   Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. H8-7151-   Patent Document 2: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No.    H4-131986

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Problem to be Solved by the Invention

There are various types of counterfeit notes. For example, ascounterfeit notes, there have been known those in which two or threedigit parts of either the head or the tail of the serial numbers judgedto be counterfeit notes are modified. In recognition of such counterfeitnotes, judging a banknote having a serial number coinciding with theserial number already judged as that of a counterfeit note at apredetermined ratio or higher as a counterfeit note is an effectivemethod for reducing a risk of accepting counterfeit notes for the ownerof a paper sheet recognition apparatus.

Besides, in countries using banknotes in which serial numbers areprinted on left and right sides on one face of a banknote, there arecounterfeit notes in which a valid banknote and a forged banknote areelaborately patched together at a half position of the banknote, andthose in which halves of valid banknotes are elaborately patchedtogether. In such cases t various measures can be considered as arecognition method of the serial number, such as recognition isperformed by reading only one of the serial numbers in a plurality ofareas or by reading all the serial numbers, and in the latter case,judgment whether or not a plurality of read serial numbers coincideswith those of the counterfeit notes is performed.

In this way, in actual recognition of serial numbers of banknotes,judgment of the serial numbers needs to be performed in consideration ofvarious situations. In the conventional technique, however, there is aproblem such that judgment can be performed based only on a singlestandard whether or not the banknote has a serial number coinciding witha pre-registered serial number.

Furthermore, although not a counterfeit note, there is a banknote inwhich numbers of a serial number are printed in different sizes so thatthe size thereof becomes wider towards the tail, such as serial numbersof the banknotes used in Malaysia and Singapore, for preventing banknotecounterfeiting. Judgment of a serial number in a conventional case inwhich the size of the serial number of the banknote is uniform isperformed such that clipping of a serial number portion is performed,segmentation of that area is performed, and matching to a dictionary ofcharacter fonts prepared beforehand is performed to thereby achievecharacter recognition. However, there is a problem such that thischaracter recognition method cannot be applied to a banknote in whichnumbers of its serial number are printed in different sizes.

Further, in a conventional paper sheet recognition apparatus, when it isused to process various foreign banknotes by the paper sheet recognitionapparatus that performs authentication of banknotes used in Japan, forexample, the paper sheet recognition apparatus cannot be used as it is,and another paper sheet recognition apparatus suitable for the specificprocessing purpose needs to be developed each time, and therefore theefficiency is very poor. In addition, as there are various type ofchecks and gift certificates, and there can be the same problems asthose with respect to banknotes described above.

The present invention has been achieved to solve the problems in theconventional techniques, and an object of the present invention is toprovide a paper sheet processing apparatus that can arbitrarily set orchange recognition conditions and authentication conditions of numbers,with respect to paper sheet processing apparatuses that recognize serialnumbers of banknotes and numbers of checks and gift certificates, andauthenticate paper sheets according to a recognized number or the like.

Means for Solving Problem

To achieve the object, a paper sheet processing apparatus according tothe present invention performs a recognizing process of a paper sheet,and includes an image reader that reads an image of a paper sheet; anumber-attribute-information memory that stores number recognitionconditions for recognizing a number given to the paper sheet; and animage processing unit/character recognizing unit that recognizes anumber of the paper sheet from an image read by the image reader, basedon the number recognition conditions stored in the number-recognitioncondition memory.

In the paper sheet processing apparatus according to the presentinvention, the number recognition conditions in the number-recognitioncondition memory are sorted by country or by kind of paper sheet andstored.

The paper sheet processing apparatus according to the present inventionfurther includes a recognition-condition setting unit that sets orchanges number recognition conditions in the number-recognitioncondition memory.

The paper sheet processing apparatus according to the present inventionfurther includes a communication interface unit that communicates withanother information processing terminal connected via a communicationline, wherein the number recognition conditions set in thenumber-recognition condition memory are set or changed by the anotherinformation processing terminal via the communication interface unit.

In the paper sheet processing apparatus according to the presentinvention, the image processing unit/character recognizing unit includesan image processing unit that clips an image of a number portion from animage of the paper sheet read by the image reader; and a characterrecognizing unit that recognizes a number of the paper sheet from animage of, the number portion clipped by the image processing unit.

In the paper sheet processing apparatus according to the presentinvention, the number recognition conditions stored in thenumber-recognition condition memory includepriority-to-predetermined-position information indicating whether torecognize a number at a predetermined position, of numbers given to thepaper sheet, by the character recognizing unit, or to recognize numbersat a plurality of positions given to the paper sheet by the characterrecognizing unit.

In the paper sheet processing apparatus according to the presentinvention, the number recognition conditions stored in thenumber-recognition condition memory include size change informationindicating whether to perform a size changing process on an image of thenumber portion clipped by the image processing unit.

In the paper sheet processing apparatus according to the presentinvention, the number recognition conditions stored in thenumber-recognition condition memory include rotation informationindicating whether or not to perform a rotation process of an image ofthe number portion clipped by the image processing unit.

The paper sheet processing apparatus according to the present inventionfurther includes an authentication unit that performs authentication ofthe paper sheet by using a number given to the paper sheet, which isrecognized by the image processing unit/character recognizing unit.

To achieve the object, a paper sheet processing apparatus according tothe present invention performs authentication of a paper sheet, andincludes an image reader that reads an image of the paper sheet; animage processing unit/character recognizing unit that recognizes anumber given to the paper sheet from an image read by the image reader:an authentication condition memory that stores authentication conditionsfor performing authentication of the paper sheet by using a number ofthe paper sheet recognized by the image processing unit/characterrecognizing unit; and a matching unit that performs matching forauthentication of the paper sheet based on the authentication conditionsstored in the authentication condition memory.

In the paper sheet processing apparatus according to the presentinvention, the authentication conditions in the authentication conditionmemory are sorted by country or by kind of paper sheet and stored.

The paper sheet processing apparatus according to the present inventionfurther includes an authentication-condition setting unit that sets orchanges the authentication conditions in the authentication conditionmemory.

The paper sheet processing apparatus according to the present inventionfurther includes a communication interface unit that communicates withanother information processing terminal connected via a communicationline, wherein the authentication conditions set or changed by theanother information processing terminal are set in the authenticationcondition memory via the communication interface unit.

In the paper sheet processing apparatus according to the presentinvention, the image processing unit/character recognizing unit includesan image processing unit that clips an image of a number portion from animage of the paper sheet read by the image reader; and a characterrecognizing unit that recognizes a number of the paper sheet from animage of the number portion clipped by the image processing unit.

In the paper sheet processing apparatus according to the presentinvention, when a plurality of numbers are printed on the paper sheet,the matching unit performs a matching process based on theauthentication conditions, with respect to the serial numbers recognizedby the character recognizing unit.

In the paper sheet processing apparatus according to the presentinvention, the authentication conditions stored in the authenticationcondition memory include multiple-matching information indicatingwhether or not perform matching between a plurality of numbers, when aplurality of numbers are printed on the paper sheet, and the matchingunit has a multiple-numbers matching function for performing a matchingprocess between the numbers, when the multiple matching information isset to perform matching between the numbers.

In the paper sheet processing apparatus according to the presentinvention, the authentication conditions stored in the authenticationcondition memory include a reference number of matched charactersindicating number of matched characters between respective digits of theplurality of numbers, which becomes a criterion for judging that a papersheet recognized by the image processing unit/character recognizing unitis not a counterfeit note, and when the number of matched charactersbetween respective digits of the numbers is equal to or larger than thereference number of matched characters, the multiple numbers matchingfunction judges that the paper sheet recognized by the image processingunit/character recognizing unit is not a counterfeit note.

The paper sheet processing apparatus according to the present inventionfurther includes a counterfeit note number memory that storescounterfeit note numbers, which are numbers of counterfeit paper sheets,wherein the matching unit has a counterfeit note-number matchingfunction for judging whether or not the paper sheet is a counterfeitnote by matching a number of the paper sheet recognized by the imageprocessing unit/character recognizing unit to the counterfeit notenumbers in the counterfeit note number memory.

In the paper sheet processing apparatus according to the presentinvention, the authentication conditions stored in the authenticationcondition memory include a reference number of matched charactersindicating number of matched characters between respective digits of thecounterfeit note numbers and a number printed on the paper sheet, whichbecomes a criterion for judging that the paper sheet recognized by theimage processing unit/character recognizing unit is a counterfeit note,and when the number of matched characters between the number of thepaper sheet recognized by the image processing unit/characterrecognizing unit and the counterfeit note numbers in the counterfeitnote number memory is equal to or larger than the reference number ofmatched characters, the counterfeit note-number matching function judgesthat the paper sheet is a counterfeit note.

The paper sheet processing apparatus according to the present inventionfurther includes a font-recognition information memory that stores fontrecognition information in which a font used for a number of a genuinepaper sheet is associated with a kind of the paper sheet, wherein thecharacter recognition function of the image processing unit/characterrecognizing unit further includes a function for judging whether a fontof the recognized number of the paper sheet is different from fontrecognition information corresponding to the kind of paper sheet in thefont recognition information memory.

In the paper sheet processing apparatus according to the presentinvention, the authentication conditions stored in the authenticationcondition memory include font difference information indicating whetheror not to discriminate a difference between a font of the paper sheet tobe authenticated from that of a genuine paper sheet for a recognizingprocess performed by the character recognition function using theinformation stored in the font-recognition information memory.

In the paper sheet processing apparatus according to the presentinvention, the paper sheet is a banknote, and the number of the papersheet is a serial number printed on a banknote.

Effect of the Invention

According to the present invention, number recognition according to thetype of a paper sheet can be performed in paper sheet processing usingserial numbers.

According to the present invention, one type of paper sheet processingapparatus can handle banknotes of a plurality of countries or ofdenominations, without developing a new logic or adding another logic.Accordingly, the development efficiency of the paper sheet processingapparatus can be increased.

According to the present invention, an administrator can arbitrarily setconditions of paper sheet processing for each apparatus, according tothe location where the paper sheet processing apparatus is installed.

According to the present invention, a plurality of paper sheetprocessing apparatuses can be controlled remotely, and control of thepaper sheet processing apparatuses installed widely can be facilitated.

According to the present invention, serial numbers for recognizing papersheets can be reliably clipped according to the type of a paper sheet tobe recognized.

According to the present invention, when recognition is performed, theaccuracy or speed in paper sheet recognition can be selected.

According to the present invention, even if there is a small characterof a number, of which characters are printed in different sizes, thesize of the character can be enlarged for recognition.

According to the present invention, even when an orientation of aclipped number is different from that of the characters as a criterion,handling the paper sheet is enabled.

According to the present invention, authentication of the recognizedpaper sheet can be performed.

According to the present invention, an authentication matching processaccording to the type of the paper sheet can be performed in paper sheetprocessing using serial numbers.

According to the present invention, one type of paper sheet processingapparatus can handle banknotes of a plurality of countries or ofdenominations, without developing a new logic or adding another logic.Accordingly, the development efficiency of the paper sheet processingapparatus can be increased.

According to the present invention, an administrator can arbitrarily setmatching conditions of paper sheets for each apparatus, according to thelocation where the paper sheet processing apparatus is installed.

According to the present invention, a plurality of paper sheetprocessing apparatuses can be controlled remotely, and control of thepaper sheet processing apparatuses installed widely can be facilitated.

According to the present invention, serial numbers for recognizing papersheets can be reliably clipped according to the type of a paper sheet toperform a matching process.

According to the present invention, even if one paper sheet is formed bypatching a plurality of paper sheets, it can be judged to be acounterfeit note.

According to the present invention, when a plurality of numbers areprinted on a paper sheet, the authentication accuracy of the paper sheetcan be increased by checking if these numbers coincide with each other.

According to the present invention, authentication of a paper sheet canbe performed, taking into consideration a case that there is anunrecognizable character in a plurality of numbers on the paper sheet.

According to the present invention, a damage due to counterfeit noteswidely circulated can be prevented by comparing and matching withnumbers known as counterfeit notes in authentication of paper sheets.

According to the present invention, a criterion for judging a papersheet as a counterfeit note can be arbitrarily changed, andauthentication setting can be performed according to the location wherethe paper sheet processing apparatus is installed.

According to the present invention, the authentication accuracy can befurther increased by taking into consideration a difference of characterfonts used for numbers in addition to coincidence of numbers.

According to the present invention, in number judgment of a paper sheet,it can be set whether highly accurate authentication is to be performedby including the difference of character fonts, or authentication isperformed faster in processing time and without including the differenceof character fonts.

According to the present invention, recognition and authentication ofpaper sheets widely circulated as paper sheets can be performed quickly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a functional configuration of apaper sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a configuration example of a papersheet recognition sensor.

FIG. 3 is an example of number recognition conditions.

FIG. 4-1 is a schematic diagram of a banknote example.

FIG. 4-2 is a schematic diagram of a banknote example.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an example of a banknote in which aserial number is printed in different character sizes.

FIG. 6 is an example of authentication conditions.

FIG. 7 is an example of processing of serial numbers of which charactersare in different sizes.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an example of an entire process procedure in apaper sheet processing method.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an example of a serial-number clipping processprocedure in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an example of a size-change process procedurein FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of an example of a serial 1 number recognitionprocess procedure in FIG. 8.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of an example of a multiple-matching processprocedure in FIG. 8.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of an example of a matching process procedure inFIG. 8.

EXPLANATIONS OF LETTERS OR NUMERALS

-   -   10 Paper sheet processing apparatus    -   11 Paper sheet recognition sensor    -   12 Paper sheet transporting unit    -   13 Number recognizing unit    -   14 Display unit    -   15 Operating unit    -   18 Communication I/F unit    -   19 Controller    -   110 First line sensor    -   111, 121 Reflective light source    -   112, 122 Lens    -   113, 123 Light receiving unit    -   114, 124 A/D converter    -   115, 125 Blocking unit    -   120 Second line sensor    -   121 Reflective light source    -   123 Light receiving unit    -   130 Emission controller    -   131 Number-attribute information memory    -   132 Authentication condition memory    -   133 Counterfeit note number memory    -   134 Image processing unit    -   135 Character recognizing unit    -   136 Matching unit    -   191 Denomination identifying unit    -   192 Authentication unit    -   200 Banknote    -   211, 212, 213 Serial number    -   1361 Counterfeit note-number matching function    -   1362 Multiple-numbers matching function

BEST MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments of a paper sheet processing apparatus according tothe present invention will be explained below in detail with referenceto the accompanying drawings. In the following embodiments, a case thatthe present invention is applied to recognition of banknotes isexplained. However, the present invention is not limited to theembodiments, and can be also applied to general paper sheets such aschecks, bank drafts, and gift certificates.

EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a functional configuration of apaper sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent invention. A paper sheet processing apparatus 10 includes apaper sheet recognition sensor 11, a paper sheet transporting unit 12, anumber recognizing unit 13, a display unit 14, an operating unit 15, aROM (Read Only Memory) 16, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 17, acommunication interface (hereinafter, I/F) unit 18, and a controller 19.

The paper sheet recognition sensor 11 has a function for reading animage of a taken-in banknote by using an optical reader to check aserial number of the banknote taken in the paper sheet processingapparatus 10. The actual paper sheet processing apparatus 10 includesvarious types of banknote recognition sensors, for example, a sensor fordetecting thickness of the banknote (thickness sensor) andauthentication sensors such as a magnetic sensor and an ultravioletsensor, other than those of the paper sheet recognition sensor 11.However, in the present embodiment, because judgment of a serial numberis its main purpose, illustrations and explanations of means other thanan optical reader required for reading serial numbers will be omitted.The paper sheet recognition sensor 11 may be referred to as “an imagereader”.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a configuration example of the papersheet recognition sensor. As shown in FIG. 2, the paper sheetrecognition sensor 11 includes a first line sensor 110 that reads animage on one surface of an input banknote 200 by visible light, a secondline sensor 120 that reads an image on the other side of the inputbanknote 200 by visible light, and an emission controller 130 thatcontrols lighting of a reflective light sources in the first and secondline sensors 110 and 120.

The first line sensor 110 includes a reflective light source 111 thatirradiates light of a predetermined wavelength to one face of thebanknote 200, a lens 112 that collects the light reflected from thebanknote 200 when the reflective light 111 source emits the light on itand, a light receiving unit 113 that converts the light collected by thelens 112 to an electric signal, an A/D converter 114 that converts theelectric signal converted by the light receiving unit 113 to digitalvalues, and a blocking unit 115 that blocks the light from a reflectivelight source 121 in the second line sensor 120 described later duringread by the light receiving unit 113.

The second line sensor 120 also includes the reflective light source 121that irradiates light of a predetermined wavelength to the other face ofthe banknote 200, a lens 122 that collects the light reflected from thebanknote 200 when the reflective light source 121 emits the light on it,a light receiving unit 123 that converts the light collected by the lens122 to an electric signal, an A/D converter 124 that converts theelectric signal converted by the light receiving unit 123 to digitalvalues, and a blocking unit 125 that blocks the light from thereflective light source 111 in the first line sensor 110 during read bythe light receiving unit 123.

It is desired to use an LED (Light Emitting Diode) as the reflectivelight sources 111 and 121 in the first and second line sensors 110 and120. Specifically, to read banknotes used in various countries orregions, it is desired to have red, green, and blue LEDs capable ofemitting visible light of an arbitrary wavelength. In the presentembodiment, because recognition of the serial number is performed byusing a reflected image, only the reflective light sources 111 and 121are shown. However, an infrared reflective light source and atransmissive light source of visible light or infrared light can beincluded for checking the authenticity or fitness of the banknote.

When the banknote is taken in, the emission controller 130 controlslighting of the reflective light sources 111 and 121 in the first andsecond line sensors 110 and 120. The above is an example of theconfiguration of the paper sheet recognition sensor 11.

The paper sheet transporting unit 12 has a function for transporting thebanknote from a banknote receiving unit (not shown) that receives thebanknote from outside, recognizing the banknote based on resultsacquired by the number recognizing unit 13, and a denomination

identifying unit 191 and an authentication unit 192 in the controller 19described later, and transports the banknote to a storing unit (notshown).

The number recognizing unit 13 performs image processing for recognizingthe serial number, a recognizing process and a matching process of theimage-processed serial number with respect to the taken-in banknote, ofwhich denomination has been identified by using the image of thebanknote read by the paper sheet recognition sensor 11, based on aninstruction from the controller 19, and returns a recognition result anda matching result to the controller 19. The number recognizing unit 13includes a number-attribute information memory 131, an authenticationcondition memory 132, a counterfeit note number memory 133, an imageprocessing unit 134, a character recognizing unit 135, and a matchingunit 136. The number recognizing unit 13 stores a program for achievinga function described later in the ROM 16 and expands the program in theRAM 17, so that a CPU (Central Processing Unit) can execute the program,or can be carried out by an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) or thelike for achieving high speed for partial processing. The imageprocessing unit 134, the character recognizing unit 135, and thematching unit 136 in the number recognizing unit 13 may be collectivelyreferred to as “an image processing unit/character recognizing unit”.

The number-attribute information memory 131 clips the serial number andrecognizes the character, and stores number attribute informationassociated with the number of the banknote required for authenticatingthe recognized serial number. The number attribute information includesnumber clipping conditions including a position of the serial number anda clipping size for each denomination and a character clipping ratio,character-font recognition information including a character font, andnumber recognition conditions including priority to predeterminedposition, size change, and presence of rotation. The type of thereflected image to be used corresponding to printed color of thebanknote and color of the serial number can be stored as the numberattribute information.

The “position of the serial number” in the number clipping conditionsindicates the position of the serial number for recognizing thebanknote, printed on the banknotes of the respective denominations. Forexample, it is indicated by a coordinate position of the serial number,using a predetermined position on the banknote (for example, upper leftcorner) as an origin. When a plurality of serial numbers are printed onthe banknote, printing positions of all the serial numbers are stored.The “clipping size” indicates a clipping size of the serial number(character string) printed at the “position of the serial number”. The“character clipping ratio” indicates an aspect ratio at the time ofclipping a character forming the serial number in a segmentation processdescribed later.

A character font used for the serial number of the banknote is stored inthe “character font” in the character-font recognition information. Anarea in which the character-font recognition information is stored inthe number-attribute information memory 131 may be referred to as “afont-recognition information memory”.

FIG. 3 is an example of the number recognition conditions. The numberrecognition conditions include respective items of “currency type”,“denomination”, “priority to predetermined position”, “size change”, and“rotation”. It is set here with respect to respective denominations ofthe kinds of banknote whether respective items of “priority topredetermined position”, “size change”, and “rotation” are set.

“Currency type” indicates the type of currency to be recognized by thepaper sheet processing apparatus 10 installed. The banknotes are sortedby country or region such as US dollar, Euro, Japanese yen, Chineseyuan, and Singapore dollar as the currency type. The “denomination” isan item indicating kinds of the banknote in a certain country or region.For example, the denominations of Japanese yen are the kinds ofbanknotes sorted as 1,000-yen note, 2,000-yen note, 5,000-yen note, and10,000-yen note.

“Priority to predetermined position” is an item for setting whether ornot a plurality of serial numbers are printed on one face of thebanknote, and whether or not judgment is to be performed for all theserial numbers when the serial numbers are printed. “YES” and “NO” canbe set herein.

“YES” in the priority to predetermined position indicates that judgmentof the banknote in which only one serial number is printed on one faceis performed or that judgment of only the serial number at apredetermined position is performed, although a plurality of serialnumbers are printed on one face. “NO” indicates that when a plurality ofserial numbers is printed on one face, all the serial numbers arejudged. FIG. 4-1 and FIG. 4-2 schematically depict an example of thebanknote. In FIG. 4-1, an example of the banknote in which serial number211 is printed at one position on the lower left corner of one face(surface) is shown. In FIG. 4-2, an example of the banknote in whichserial numbers 212 and 213 are printed at two positions on the lowerleft corner and on the right end of one face (surface) is shown. Theserial number 213 on the right end is printed in a direction rotated by90 degrees counterclockwise with respect to the serial number 212 on thelower left corner.

In the case of “NO” in the priority to predetermined position, the twoserial numbers 212 and 213 shown in FIG. 4-2 are to be judged, and inthe case of “YES” in the priority to predetermined position, the serialnumber 211 of the banknote shown in FIG. 4-1 or any one of the twoserial numbers 212 and 213 of the banknote shown in FIG. 4-2 is to bejudged. It can be set to read the serial number at a predeterminedposition on a predetermined face of the banknote preferentially at alltimes, as a method to determine a priority position in the case of “YES”in the priority to predetermined position. In this case, for example, inthe banknote shown in FIG. 4-2, it is set to read the serial number 212on the lower left on the surface of the banknote at all times. An orderof priority of a position for reading the serial number can be setaccording to another setting method, and for example, a serial numberhaving a higher recognition ratio among all serial numbers 212 and. 213can be preferentially read.

“Size change” is an item for setting whether or not the banknote inwhich the printed serial number is printed in different character sizesis to be judged. “YES” and “NO” can be set as the size change. In thecase of “YES” in the size change, a banknote in which the serial numberis printed in different character sizes is to be judged. In the case of“NO”, a banknote in which the serial number is printed in characters ofthe same size is to be judged. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of anexample of the banknote in which the serial number is printed indifferent character sizes. As shown in FIG. 5, when the serial number214 is printed in different character sizes, “YES” is set in the sizechange. Further, in the case of FIGS. 4-1 and 4-2, because the serialnumbers 211 to 213 are printed in characters of the same size, “NO” isset in the size change.

“Rotation” is an item for setting whether or not to perform rotationwhen an orientation of the read serial number is not a predeterminedorientation. “YES” and “NO” can be set as rotation. In the case of “YES”in the rotation, when the character in the image of the clipped serialnumber is not in the predetermined orientation, processing for rotatingthe image to face in the predetermined orientation is performed. In thecase of “NO”, there is no need to rotate the clipped serial number,because the characters in the image thereof face the predeterminedorientation. For example, in the case of the serial number 211 in FIG.4-1 and the serial number 212 in FIG. 4-2, “NO” is set in the rotation,because the orientation of the clipped characters faces upward. When theorientation of the clipped characters is left-pointing like the serialnumber 213 in FIG. 4-2, “YES” is set in the rotation, because thecharacters need to face upward by rotating the characters by 90 degreesclockwise.

An area in which the number recognition conditions are stored in thenumber-attribute information memory 131 may be referred to as “anumber-recognition condition memory”.

The authentication condition memory 132 stores authenticationconditions, which are conditions for performing judgment relating to theserial number of the banknote. The authentication conditions can include“multiple-matching”, which is an item indicating whether or not toperform matching between the read serial numbers when judgment of the“kind of a banknote” and “denomination” indicating the kind of thebanknote to be judged, or judgment of a plurality of serial numbers isperformed, “number of matched characters” indicating a matching degreewith serial numbers of banknotes judged to be counterfeit notes(hereinafter, “serial number of the counterfeit note”), which becomes areference at the time of judgment as a counterfeit note, and “characterfont difference” indicating whether or not the banknote used in onecountry or region is printed by using a plurality of character fonts.

The authentication conditions including these items are set by a user byusing the operating unit 15 and the display unit 14 or via thecommunication I/F unit 18. To facilitate a setting operation by theuser, conditions in which set values of the above items are variouslychanged with respect to one denomination are held in a table format, andthe user can select authentication conditions close to an actualoperation among these, and according to circumstances, customize theselected authentication conditions via the operating unit 15 or via thecommunication I/F unit 18 from outside such as a higher-rankingterminal, and set the customized conditions as the authenticationconditions. In the present embodiment, such a case is explained as anexample.

FIG. 6 is an example of the authentication conditions. Theauthentication conditions include the respective items of “currencytype”, “denomination”, “multiple-matching”, “number of matchedcharacters” and “character font difference”. “Currency type” and“denomination” are the same as those explained in the number recognitionconditions in FIG. 3, “currency type” indicates a type of currency forwhich recognition is performed by the paper sheet processing apparatus10 installed, and “denomination” indicates a kind of banknote used in acurrency of a certain country or region.

“Multiple-matching” is an item for setting whether or not to judgewhether a plurality of read serial numbers on the banknote coincideswith each other, when the serial numbers are printed on the banknote andthe priority to predetermined position in the number recognitionconditions is “NO”. “YES and “NO” can be set herein. “YES” in themultiple-matching indicates to judge whether or not all the serialnumbers coincide with each other when the priority to predeterminedposition is “NO”. “NO” in the multiple-matching indicates not to performthe multiple-matching, because only one serial number is read when thepriority to predetermined position is “NO” and matching for a pluralityof serial numbers is not performed, or when the priority topredetermined position is “YES”. In the “multiple-matching”, not onlymatching between a plurality of serial numbers on one face of thebanknote, but also matching between a plurality of serial numbersprinted on two sides of the banknote can be performed.

The “number of matched characters” is an item for setting the number ofmatched digits (number of matched characters) when the banknote to bejudged is judged as a counterfeit note by comparing the number of digits(number of characters) of the serial number on the banknote to be judgedwith the serial numbers of the counterfeit notes stored in thecounterfeit note number memory 133 in the authentication. The “number ofmatched characters” is set by the higher-ranking terminal via theoperating unit 15 and the communication I/F unit 18 by the user. Thenumber of matched characters may be referred to as “the reference numberof matched characters”.

A case of a banknote having a 10-digit serial number is exemplified.When the number of matched characters is set to “ten characters”, abanknote to be checked is judged as a counterfeit note when tencharacters in the serial number of the banknote completely coincide withten characters in the serial number of a counterfeit note including anorder thereof. Accordingly, even if 9-digit characters of ten digitscoincide with the serial number of the counterfeit note, the banknote isnot judged as a counterfeit note. When the number of matched charactersis set to “eight characters”, a banknote to be checked is judged as acounterfeit note when the serial number of the banknote coincides withthe serial number of a counterfeit note by eight digits or more of tendigits of characters. That is, when 8-digit characters of 10-digitcharacters coincide with those of the counterfeit note, the banknote isjudged as a counterfeit note, however, when 7-digit characters of10-digit characters coincide with those of the counterfeit note, thebanknote is not judged as a counterfeit note—In recognition of theserial number, there is a matching rate, which is a rate of matchingbetween a serial number of a banknote to be judged and the serial numberof a counterfeit note, as substantially the same idea as the number ofmatched characters, and the matching rate can be used instead of thenumber of matched characters.

“Character font difference” is an item for indicating whether or notthere is a plurality of kinds of banknote printed in a different fontwith respect to one banknote, in the banknotes used in one country orregion. “YES” and “NO” can be set as the character font difference. Thatis, “YES” in character font difference is set in a place where aplurality of kinds of banknote printed in a different font such as Eurois used, and “NO” is set in a place where only the banknotes printed inthe same character font are used. In the case of “YES” in character fontdifference, a plurality of character fonts are registered with respectto one denomination in the character-font recognition information in thenumber-attribute information memory 131.

In the above explanations, the “number of matched characters” is forjudging a banknote to be a counterfeit note when the serial number ofthe banknote to be judged coincides with the serial number of acounterfeit note by certain number of digits. However, “number ofmatched characters” can be also set at the time of performing a matchingprocess for a plurality of numbers in the case of “YES” inmultiple-matching. In this case, when fewer than the predeterminednumber of digits of a serial number at one position in a banknotecoincide with a serial number at another position, the banknote printedwith these serial numbers is judged to be a counterfeit note. The numberof matched characters to be set at this time may be referred to as “thereference number of matched characters”.

As shown in FIG. 6, when a plurality of authentication conditions arestored in a table format in the authentication condition memory 132, theauthentication conditions are set in the authentication unit 192 fromthese conditions. In this explanation, the number recognition conditionsin FIG. 3 and the authentication conditions in FIG. 6 are storedrespectively in the number-attribute information memory 131 and theauthentication condition memory 132; however, the recognition conditionsin FIG. 3 and the authentication conditions in FIG. 6 can be storedtogether.

The counterfeit note number memory 133 stores the serial number judgedas a counterfeit note or recognized as a counterfeit note by the user(counterfeit-note serial number) associated with the banknote. Thecounterfeit-note serial number is input by the user via the operatingunit 15 or set by the higher-ranking terminal via the communication I/Funit 18.

The image processing unit 134 clips the position and size of a serialnumber portion from a reflected image read by the paper sheetrecognition sensor 11 based on the number clipping conditions and thenumber recognition conditions in the number-attribute information memory131, by using a denomination identification result including thedenomination and the orientation of the taken-in banknote acquired bythe controller, to perform required image processing.

Specifically, the image processing unit 134 acquires the position andclipping size of the serial number corresponding to the denominationidentification result received from the controller from the numberclipping conditions, and clips a slightly larger partial image includingthe serial number portion from the read reflected image of the banknoteby using the position and clipping size of the serial number. In thecase of “NO” in priority to predetermined position in the numberrecognition conditions, the serial numbers at the respective positionson the banknote are clipped based on a serial number clipping position.In the case of “YES” in priority to predetermined position and abanknote in which a plurality of serial numbers are printed on one face,the serial number is clipped based on the serial-number clippingposition at a preset position (hereinafter, “preferential position”) inthe number recognition conditions. When the clipped partial image has adifferent orientation from that of the banknote as shown by serialnumber 213 in FIG. 4-2, a rotation process for rotating the clippedpartial image needs to be performed. For example, in the case of serialnumber 213 in FIG. 4-2, the partial image is rotated by 90 degreesclockwise. In this case, “YES” can be set in the item of rotation in thenumber recognition conditions stored in the number-attribute informationmemory 131. Setting of “YES” and “NO” in the item of rotation can be setarbitrarily.

Furthermore, the segmentation process for recognition between charactersis performed for the clipped partial image, and respective charactersconstituting the serial number are clipped. At the time of clipping therespective characters by the segmentation process, the characters areclipped so that an aspect ratio (length) becomes a predetermined ratiopreset according to the kind of the banknote. The aspect ratio at thetime of clipping is stored in the number clipping conditions in thenumber-attribute information memory 131 as a “character clipping ratio”.

Further, the image processing unit 134 also has a function for changingthe size of the respective characters constituting the clipped serialnumber. When “YES” is set in the item of size change in the numberrecognition conditions in the number-attribute information memory 131,the image processing unit 134 changes the size of the character in theclipped serial number. FIG. 7 is an example of processing of serialnumbers in different sizes. Horizontal and vertical lengths X and Y ofthe respective characters in the serial numbers having different sizesclipped by the image processing unit 134 are measured (X:Y is the presetpredetermined ratio (character clipping ratio in the number clippingconditions)). A character having a desired size of the characters in theserial number is selected as a reference character, and horizontal andvertical lengths (clipped length) thereof are designated as X_(o) andY_(o). The reference character can be arbitrarily set according toresolution of the reflected image and the like; however, in thisexample, the largest character is designated as the reference character.

Horizontal and vertical lengths of the character are then respectivelyscaled at the same ratio so that the characters other than the referencecharacter have substantially the same size as that of the referencecharacter. In this example, it is assumed that the respective charactersare enlarged by X_(o)/x(=Y_(o)/Y) times at the same ratio horizontallyand vertically. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 7, the characters otherthan the reference character are enlarged to have substantially the samesize as that of the reference size. In the case of “NO” in the item ofsize change in the number recognition conditions, the image processingunit 134 does not change the size of the serial number. In the aboveexample, the largest character is selected as the reference character;however, any character can be selected so long as the character can berecognized in the matching process performed by the matching unit 136described later. In this case, other characters are scaled to be matchedwith the reference character. A scaling ratio can be stored beforehand,or the size of the character suitable for recognition can be storedbeforehand, and the size of the character can be changed by using thestored size.

The character recognizing unit 135 performs character recognition withrespect to the serial number clipped by the image processing unit 134 orfurther rotated or size-converted. Specifically, the characterrecognizing unit 135 recognizes the respective characters in the serialnumber recognizable by the image processing unit 134 based on adenomination identification result by the controller 19, that is,comparing and matching with the character fonts in the character-fontrecognition information set with respect to the same kind of banknote inthe number-attribute information memory 131 are performed. When “NO” isset in the “character font difference” in the authentication conditionsstored in the authentication condition memory 132, the characterrecognizing unit 135 needs only to recognize the respective charactersin the serial number. A recognition rate of the enlarged characters canbe increased by performing the matching process by using a template forthe enlarged character. In addition to such a characteristic recognizingprocess, only a feature quantity is calculated at the time ofrecognizing the respective characters, and font recognition by using thecharacter-font recognition information can be performed based on thecalculated feature quantity of the character by another processing unit.

The image processing unit 134 and the character recognizing unit 135correspond to “image processing unit/character recognizing unit” in theclaims.

The matching unit 136 performs matching for authentication using theserial number with respect to the serial number subjected to characterrecognition by the character recognizing unit 135, and includes acounterfeit note-number matching function 1361 and a multiple-numbersmatching function 1362.

The counterfeit note-number matching function 1361 performs a judgmentwhether or not a serial number of a paper sheet matched has a numberequal to or more than a predetermined number of matched charactersstored in the counterfeit note number memory 133 when the serial numberis recognizable in matching to counterfeit-note serial numbers by theimage processing unit 134. Instead of the number of matched characters,a matching ratio may be also available.

The multiple-numbers matching function 1362 is for matching the serialnumbers subjected to character recognition to each other at a pluralityof positions on the banknote to judge whether or not these serialnumbers coincide with each other, when “YES” is set in the item ofmultiple-matching in the authentication conditions stored in theauthentication condition memory 132.

The display unit 14 has a function for displaying a setting screen atthe time of setting the authentication conditions based on a displayprogram, and includes a liquid crystal display or the like. At the timeof normal operation, the display unit 14 displays various pieces ofinformation such as operation information, processing informationincluding the number of banknotes processed and a total amount, thestate of the apparatus, and the like to an operator of the paper sheetprocessing apparatus.

The operating unit 15 sets the number attribute information in thenumber-attribute information memory 131 (number clipping conditions,character-font recognition information, and number recognitionconditions), the authentication conditions in the authenticationcondition memory 132, and the counterfeit-note serial numbers in thecounterfeit note number memory 133 in the paper sheet processingapparatus 10. Specifically, when the authentication conditions are inputby the user based on the setting screen of the authentication conditionsdisplayed on the display unit 14, the operating unit 15 stores the inputauthentication conditions in the authentication condition memory 132 ofthe number recognizing unit 13. When the serial-number recognitioninformation is input by the user based on the setting screen of theserial-number recognition information, the operating unit 15 stores theserial-number recognition information in the number-attributeinformation memory 131 of the number recognizing unit 13. Further, whenthe counterfeit-note serial number is input by the user based on thesetting screen of the counterfeit note number information, the operatingunit 15 stores the counterfeit-note serial number in the counterfeitnote number memory 133 of the number recognizing unit 13. At the time ofnormal operation, the operating unit 15 is used when processing of thepaper sheet processing apparatus 10 or processing for operation control(selection of various modes such as processing start, counting, orfitness sorting) is performed. The operating unit 15 may be referred toas “a recognition-condition setting unit” or “anauthentication-condition setting unit”.

The ROM 16 stores a control program associated with general operation ofthe paper sheet processing apparatus 10, and stores information (forexample, reference feature information and a recognition program) usedwhen the controller 19 recognizes the banknote by using various banknoterecognition sensors. The RAM 17 is used as a temporary work area whenthe paper sheet processing apparatus 10 performs various types ofprocessing.

The communication I/F unit 18 performs a communication function via acommunication line between the paper sheet processing apparatus 10 andan information processing terminal. When the paper sheet processingapparatus 10 is connected to another information processing terminal,the paper sheet processing apparatus 10 is normally connected to ahigher-ranking apparatus via the communication line. The higher-rankingapparatus can set the number attribute information in thenumber-attribute information memory 131, the authentication conditionsin the authentication condition memory 132, and the counterfeit-noteserial number in the counterfeit note number memory 133.

The controller 19 controls respective processing units associated withthe paper sheet recognition sensor 11, the paper sheet transporting unit12, the number recognizing unit 13, the display unit 14, the operatingunit 15, the ROM 16, and the RAM 17. The controller 19 includes thedenomination identifying unit 191 that identify the denomination basedon, for example, the information of the reflected image read by thepaper sheet recognition sensor 11, and the authentication unit 192 thatauthenticates the banknote of the denomination identified by thedenomination identifying unit 191.

The denomination identifying unit 191 denominates the denominationincluding an orientation of the banknote by using the reflected imageread by the paper sheet recognition sensor 11. The authentication unit192 authenticates the taken-in banknote based on a processed result withrespect to the paper sheet recognition sensor, processed results withrespect to the thickness sensor, the magnetic sensor, and theultraviolet sensor, and a result of processing performed by the numberrecognizing unit 13 with respect to the serial number.

The paper sheet processing apparatus 10 having the configurationdescribed above can perform recognition of the serial number of thebanknote corresponding to various purposes by setting the authenticationconditions, in which a judgment reference and a judgment method arecombined for different purposes, in the authentication condition memory132.

A recognition method of the banknote in the paper sheet processingapparatus 10 is explained next. FIGS. 8 to 13 are flowcharts of anexample of a process procedure in a paper sheet processing method. FIG.8 is a flowchart of an example of the entire process procedure in thepaper sheet processing method. FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an example of aserial-number clipping process procedure in FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is aflowchart of an example of a size change process procedure in FIG. 8.FIG. 11 is a flowchart of an example of a serial-number recognitionprocess procedure in FIG. 8. FIG. 12 is a flowchart of an example of amultiple-matching process procedure in FIG. 8, and FIG. 13 is aflowchart of an example of a matching process procedure in FIG. 8.

An outline of a process procedure in the paper sheet processing methodis explained first with reference to FIG. 8. When the banknote is takenin to the paper sheet processing apparatus 10, as shown in FIG. 8, thepaper sheet recognition sensor 11 reads the banknote being transported(Step S11), to acquire a reflected image of a predetermined wavelengthof both sides of the taken-in banknote (Step S12). The denominationidentifying unit 191 in the controller 19 then identifies thedenomination and orientation of the banknote based on the acquiredreflected image (Step S13).

Thereafter, the image processing unit 134 in the number recognizing unit13 clips a serial number portion of the banknote from the image acquiredat Step S12 corresponding to conditions set in the number attributeinformation (number clipping conditions and number recognitionconditions) stored in the number-attribute information memory 131 and acondition set in the item of priority to predetermined position of theauthentication conditions stored in the authentication condition memory132, and clips the respective characters constituting the serial number(Step S14). The image processing unit 134 of the number recognizing unit13 then changes the character size of the serial number on the banknoteaccording to the conditions set in the item of size change in the numberrecognition conditions (Step S15). The character recognizing unit 135 inthe number recognizing unit 13 then performs the serial-numberrecognizing process for recognizing the respective characters in theclipped or, according to circumstances, size-changed serial number (StepS16). When “NO” is set in the size change, the size changing process isnot performed.

The multiple-numbers matching function 1362 of the character recognizingunit 135 in the number recognizing unit 13 then performs amultiple-matching judging process for judging whether the serial numberscoincide with each other at a plurality of positions on the taken-inbanknote, when “YES” is set in the multiple matching in theauthentication conditions (Step S17). The counterfeit note-numbermatching function 1361 of the matching unit 136 then performs a matchingprocess for judging whether or not characters in respective digits of aplurality of serial numbers on the banknote in the case of selectingmultiple-matching, or characters in the respective digits of the serialnumber at a predetermined position (a preferential position) on thebanknote in other cases coincide with the characters in the respectivedigits of the counterfeit-note serial numbers stored in the counterfeitnote number memory 133, by referring to the item of multiple-matching inthe authentication conditions (Step S18). At this time, the counterfeitnote number matching function 1361 performs authentication of thebanknote to be checked by judging whether or not the clipped serialnumber coincides with the counterfeit-note serial number by the numberof characters set in the item of number of matched characters in theauthentication conditions.

The authentication unit 192 in the controller 19 performs anauthentication process of the taken-in banknote; taking intoconsideration the result acquired by the paper sheet recognition sensor11 such as the magnetic sensor and the ultraviolet sensor and the resultof the multiple-matching judging process at Step S17 and the matchingprocess at Step S18 (Step S19), to thereby finish the process in thepaper sheet processing method. When it is intended to recognize theserial number on the banknote, after the serial number on the banknoteis recognized by the serial-number recognizing process at Step S16, theprocess may be finished without performing the processes at Steps S17 toS19.

Details of the serial-number clipping process at Step S14 in FIG. 8 areexplained next. First; the image processing unit 134 in the numberrecognizing unit 13 judges whether or not “YES” is set in the item of“priority to predetermined position” in the number recognitionconditions stored in the number-attribute information memory 131 (StepS101). When “NO” is set in the item of “priority to predeterminedposition” (NO at Step S101), the image processing unit 134 clips theserial numbers at a plurality of positions from the reflected image,based on the denomination acquired from the denomination identifyingunit 191 in the controller 19, the denomination identification resultincluding the orientation thereof, the serial-number clipping positionand the clipping size corresponding to the kind of the banknote(denomination) in the number clipping conditions stored in thenumber-attribute information memory 131 (Step S102). When there is onlyone serial number on the face or rear face of the banknote, one serialnumber portion is clipped at Step S102.

On the other hand, when “YES” is set in the item of “priority topredetermined position” at Step S101 (YES at Step S101), the imageprocessing unit 134 clips the serial number at the predeterminedposition from the reflected image, based on the denomination acquiredfrom the denomination identifying unit 191 in the controller 19, thedenomination identification result including the direction thereof, theserial-number clipping position and the clipping size corresponding tothe kind of the banknote in the number clipping conditions stored in thenumber-attribute information memory 131 (Step S103).

Thereafter, or after Step S102, when the orientation of the clippedserial number is different from that of the banknote (when “YES” is setin the rotation in the number recognition conditions), the imageprocessing unit 134 performs a rotation process so that the orientationof the serial number is matched with the orientation of the banknote.Thereafter or when the orientation of the clipped serial number is thesame as that of the banknote, the image processing unit 134 executes thesegmentation process for recognition between the characters of theclipped serial number, and clips the respective character portions ofthe serial number so as to have a predetermined aspect ratio (StepS104). Accordingly, the serial-number clipping process is finished andcontrol returns to the flowchart in FIG. 8.

Details of a size changing process at Step S15 in FIG. 8 are explainednext with reference to FIG. 10. First, the image processing unit 134 inthe number recognizing unit 13 judges whether or not “YES” is set in theitem of “size change” in the authentication conditions (Step S201). When“YES” is set in the item of “size change” (YES at Step S201), the imageprocessing unit 134 measures horizontal and vertical sizes X and Y ofthe clipped character for the respective characters in the clippedserial number (Step S202). The image processing unit 134 then selects areference character from the respective characters of the clipped serialnumber (Step S203). The horizontal and vertical sizes of the selectedreference character are designated as X_(o) and Y_(o). The charactersother than the reference character are scaled (enlarged or reduced) byX_(o)/X (=Y_(o)/Y) times so that the characters have the same size asthat of the reference character (Step S204).

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, when the rightmost character “1” havingthe largest size is designated as the reference character, sizes ofother characters are enlarged, matched with the size of referencecharacter “1”. At this time, the characters are scaled according to avalue obtained by dividing the horizontal or vertical length of thereference character by the horizontal or vertical length of thecharacter to be enlarged. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 7, a serialnumber in which the characters having the same size are arranged can beacquired. Accordingly, the size change size changing process is finishedand control returns to the flowchart in FIG. 8. The reference charactermay be determined beforehand and the size of other characters may bechanged to the size of the reference character.

At Step S201, when “NO” is set in the item of “size change” (NO at StepS201), the process is finished without performing the size changingprocess of the respective characters in the serial number printed on thetaken-in banknote, and control returns to FIG. 8.

Details of the serial-number recognizing process at Step S16 in FIG. 8are explained next with reference to FIG. 11. First, the characterrecognizing unit 135 in the number recognizing unit 13 judges whether ornot “YES” is set in the item of “priority to predetermined position” inthe number recognition conditions stored in the number-attributeinformation memory 131 (Step S301). That is, the character recognizingunit 135 judges whether or not the recognizing process or the matchingprocess is to be performed for only one serial number at a predeterminedposition in the reflected image of the banknote, or the recognizingprocess or the matching process is to be performed for a plurality ofserial numbers in the reflected image of the banknote.

When “YES” is set in the item of “priority to predetermined position”(YES at Step S301), the character recognizing unit 135 recognizes thecharacters in the serial number at the predetermined position (StepS302). The character recognizing unit 135 recognizes the respectivecharacters in the serial number clipped in the serial-number clippingprocess shown in FIG. 9.

Thereafter, the character recognizing unit 135 judges whether or not theprocess has finished normally for the respective characters in theserial number (Step S303). It is assumed that the recognizing processhas finished normally when all the characters can be recognizednormally, and in other cases, it is assumed that the recognizing processhas not finished normally.

When the recognizing process has finished normally (YES at Step S303),the character recognizing unit 135 informs the controller 19 of arecognition result acquired at Step S302 (Step S304) withoutmodification, and the serial-number recognizing process is finished.

When the recognizing process has not finished normally (NO at StepS303), the character recognizing unit 135 informs the controller 19 of aresult in which an unrecognizable character is replaced by apredetermined character indicating that the character cannot be

recognized (for example, a character “?” or “*” (hereinafter, “rejectcharacter”)) for indicating arecognition failure (Step S305). The serial-number recognizing processis then finished.

On the other hand, at Step S301, when “NO” is set in the item of“priority to predetermined position” (NO at Step S301), the characterrecognizing unit 135 performs the character recognizing process of theserial numbers at a plurality of positions on the banknote (in thereflected image) (Step S321). The character recognizing process of theserial number is also for judging whether or not the respectivecharacters constituting the serial number can be recognized as at StepS302.

Thereafter, the character recognizing unit 135 judges whether or not thecharacter recognizing process of the serial numbers at the plurality ofpositions has finished normally (Step S322). When the characterrecognizing process of the serial number at the positions has finishednormally (YES at Step S322), the character recognizing unit 135 informsthe controller 19 of the recognition result at Step S321 (Step S323)without modification, and the serial-number recognizing process isfinished. When the character recognizing process of the serial number atthe positions has not finished normally (NO at Step S322), the characterrecognizing unit 135 informs the controller 19 of the recognition resultin which an unrecognizable portion is replaced by a reject character(Step S324), and the serial-number recognizing process is finished.

At the time of the character recognizing process of the serial number atStep S302 or S321, when “YES” is set in the item of the “character fontdifference” in the authentication conditions, the character recognizingunit 135 can acquire the character font used for the denominationincluded in the denomination identification result from thecharacter-font recognition information in the number-attributeinformation memory 131, to perform the character recognizing processincluding the character font. When there is only one serial number, aprocess for recognizing only one serial number is performed.

Details of the multiple-matching judging process at Step S17 in FIG. 8are explained next with reference to FIG. 12. First, themultiple-numbers matching function 1362 of the matching unit 136 in thenumber recognizing unit 13 judges whether or not “YES” is set in theitem of “priority to predetermined position” in the number recognitionconditions in the number-attribute information memory 131 (Step S400).When “NO” is set in the item of “priority to predetermined position” (NOat Step S400), the multiple-numbers matching function 1362 furtherjudges whether or not “YES” is set in the item of “multiple-matching” inthe authentication conditions in the authentication condition memory 132(Step S401).

When “YES” is set in the item of “multiple matching” in theauthentication conditions (YES at Step S401), the multiple-numbersmatching function 1362 compares the serial numbers at a plurality ofpositions on the banknote with each other by using only digits of thecharacters for which recognition has succeeded in the process at StepS323 or S324 of the serial-number recognizing process in FIG. 11 (thatis, digits of characters other than the reject character) (Step S402).At this time, when all recognizable characters coincide with each other,the multiple-numbers matching function 1362 determines a judgment resultas a match, and in other cases; determines the judgment result as amismatch. At the time of judgment, the number of characters to bematched between a plurality of serial numbers, which becomes a referencefor identifying between match and mismatch, can be changed arbitrarily.

The multiple-numbers matching function 1362 judges whether the judgmentresults by a comparison between the serial numbers coincide with eachother (Step S403). When the judgment results coincide with each other(YES at Step S403), the multiple-numbers matching function 1362 sets afit note flag indicating that the taken-in banknote is a fit note (StepS404), and informs the controller 19 of the recognition result of theserial number together with the fit note flag (Step S405), therebyfinishing the multiple-matching judging process.

When the judgment results do not coincide with each other at Step S403(NO at Step S403), the multiple-numbers matching function 1362 sets acounterfeit note flag indicating that the taken-in banknote is acounterfeit note (Step S410), and informs the controller 19 of therecognition result of the serial number together with the counterfeitnote flag (Step S411), thereby finishing the multiple-matching judgingprocess. The counterfeit note flag is set at Step S410; however, a flagindicating that the taken-in banknote is suspected as a counterfeit notecan be set without concluding that it is a counterfeit note.

Further, when “NO” is set in the item of “multiple-matching” (NO at StepS401), the multiple-numbers matching function 1362 informs thecontroller 19 of two recognition results acquired at Step S323 or S324in FIG. 11 (Step S421), and the multiple-matching judging process isfinished. At the time of informing the controller 19 of the recognitionresult at Steps S405, S411, and S421, a serial number having less numberof reject characters of the serial numbers, that is, the serial numberhaving less number of unrecognizable characters may be informed as aresult.

At Step S400, when “YES” is set in the item of “priority topredetermined position” (YES at Step S400), because a plurality ofserial numbers are not read, the process is finished without performingthe multiple matching judging process. When there is only one serialnumber, the multiple-matching judging process is not performed.

Details of the matching process at Step S18 in FIG. 8 are explained nextwith reference to FIG. 13. The counterfeit note-number matching function1361 of the matching unit 136 selects one of the counterfeit-note serialnumbers stored in the counterfeit note number memory 133 (Step S501). Atthis time, a serial number corresponding to the kind (country or region)of the taken-in banknote is selected as the counterfeit-note serialnumber to be selected. Thereafter, the characters of respective digitsof the character-recognized serial number are compared with charactersof respective digits of the selected counterfeit-note serial number(Step S502).

After the comparison, the counterfeit note-number matching function 1361judges whether or not a number indicating how many characters the serialnumber of the banknote to be checked coincides with the counterfeit-noteserial number for each digit of the characters is equal to or more thana predetermined number of matched characters (Step S503). Instead of thenumber of matched characters, a matching ratio may be also available.When the number indicating how many characters the serial number of thebanknote coincides with the counterfeit-note serial number is equal toor more than the predetermined number of matched characters (YES at StepS503), the counterfeit note-number matching function 1361 judges thatthe taken-in banknote is a counterfeit note (Step S504). The counterfeitnote-number matching function 1361 judges that the banknote is acounterfeit note at Step S504, however, judgment that the banknote issuspected as a counterfeit note can be performed. Accordingly, thematching process is finished.

On the other hand, when the number indicating how many characters theserial number of the banknote coincides the counterfeit-note serialnumber is less than the predetermined number of matched characters (NOat Step S503), the counterfeit note-number matching function 1361 checkswhether or not another counterfeit-note serial number is registered inthe counterfeit note number memory 133 (Step S505). Instead of thenumber of matched characters, a matching rate may be also available.When another counterfeit-note serial number is registered in thecounterfeit note number memory 133 (YES at Step S505), thecounterfeit-note number matching function 1361 returns to Step S501 torepeat the process. When another counterfeit-note serial number is notregistered in the counterfeit note number memory 133 (NO at Step S505),because the clipped serial number does not coincide with any of all theregistered counterfeit-note serial numbers, the character recognizingunit 135 judges that the taken-in banknote is a genuine note (StepS506), and the matching process is finished.

In the process shown in FIG. 8 described above, an order of themultiple-matching judging process at Step S17 and the matching processat Step S18 may be permutated, or may be simultaneously performed. Inthe matching process, when “NO” is set in the item of “priority topredetermined position” in the number recognition conditions, thematching process may be performed for a plurality of serial numbers onthe banknote. As shown in FIG. 8, in the case that the multiple-matchingjudging process is performed before the matching process at Step S18,the matching process needs only to be performed for one of the serialnumbers, when the serial numbers coincide with each other in themultiple-matching judging process.

In the paper sheet processing apparatus 10, the serial number of thebanknote newly recognized as a counterfeit note can be stored in thenumber-attribute information memory 131 in the paper sheet processingapparatus 10 as the serial number of the counterfeit note.

According to the present embodiment, in the paper sheet processing usingthe serial number, a judgment reference and a judgment method of theserial number can be arbitrarily set or changed according to a placewhere the paper sheet processing is performed. One type of the papersheet processing apparatus 10 can handle banknotes of a plurality ofcountries or denominations, and because there is no need to develop anew logic or to add another logic, the development efficiency of thepaper sheet processing apparatus 10 can be increased.

In the matching process with the counterfeit-note serial number, becausethe number of matched characters, which is the reference for judgingthat a banknote to be checked is a counterfeit note, can be arbitrarilychanged, the matching process can be performed according to an intentionof an owner or manager of the paper sheet processing apparatus 10.

Further, in the matching process with the counterfeit-note serialnumber, when a plurality of serial numbers are printed on a banknote,because a match of characters between the serial numbers is performed,counterfeit note patching or pranks can be detected. Further, becauserecognition is performed by using the serial numbers not at one positionbut at a plurality of positions, even if there is a characterunrecognizable due to stain or the like in the serial number,recognition is performed by using another serial number at anotherposition, thereby enabling to improve the recognition rate.

In the recognizing process of the serial number including characters ofdifferent sizes, the respective characters are clipped and segmented,and size change is performed (enlarged or reduced) at the same ratio,thereby enabling to recognize the serial number by using the sameprocedure as that of the character recognizing process in the normalserial number including characters of the same size.

Further, because the serial number is identified by using thecounterfeit-note serial numbers including information of the characterfont, the paper sheet processing apparatus 10 can deal with recognitionand identification of serial numbers of banknotes of all the countriesin the world. In the recognizing process, because matching needs only tobe performed with the character font to be checked, an algorithm of aclipping process and the segmentation process of a recognition areawhere the serial number is printed can be the one common to theconventional technique.

Further, in the above explanations, a case that the banknote isprocessed as a processing target of the paper sheet processing apparatushas been exemplified. However, the paper sheet processing apparatus maybe similarly used when other paper sheets such as a check is processedas the processing target. For example, when a check is processed as theprocessing target of the paper sheet processing apparatus, a checknumber, number of ABA (American Bank Association), or account number maybe used as the number of the paper sheet.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, the paper sheet processing apparatus according tothe present invention is useful for a banknote processing apparatus or acheck processing apparatus.

1. A paper sheet processing apparatus that performs authentication of apaper sheet, the paper sheet processing apparatus comprising: an imagereader that reads an image of the paper sheet; an image processingunit/character recognizing unit that recognizes a unique number printedon the paper sheet from an image read by the image reader; anauthentication condition memory that stores authentication conditionsfor performing authentication of the paper sheet by using the uniquenumber printed on the paper sheet recognized by the image processingunit/character recognizing unit; and a matching unit that performsmatching for authenticating the paper sheet based on the authenticationconditions stored in the authentication condition memory.
 2. The papersheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theauthentication conditions in the authentication condition memory aresorted for country and/or for kind of paper sheet and stored.
 3. Thepaper sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising an authentication-condition setting unit that sets or changesthe authentication conditions in the authentication condition memory. 4.The paper sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising a communication interface unit that communicates with anotherinformation processing terminal connected via a communication line,wherein the authentication conditions set in the authenticationcondition memory are set or changed by the another informationprocessing terminal via the communication interface unit.
 5. The papersheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imageprocessing unit/character recognizing unit comprises: an imageprocessing unit that clips an image of a number portion of the papersheet from an image of the paper sheet read by the image reader; and acharacter recognizing unit that recognizes the unique number printed onthe paper sheet from an image of the number portion clipped by the imageprocessing unit.
 6. The paper sheet processing apparatus according toclaim 5, wherein when a plurality of unique numbers are printed on thepaper sheet, the matching unit performs a matching process based on theauthentication conditions, with respect to the unique numbers recognizedby the character recognizing unit.
 7. The paper sheet processingapparatus according to claim 6, wherein the authentication conditionsstored in the authentication condition memory comprise multiple-matchinginformation indicating whether to perform matching between a pluralityof numbers, when a plurality of numbers are printed on the paper sheet,and the matching unit has a multiple-numbers matching function forperforming a matching process between the numbers, when it is set toperform matching between the numbers by the multiple-matchinginformation.
 8. The paper sheet processing apparatus according to claim7, wherein the authentication conditions stored in the authenticationcondition memory comprise a reference number of matched charactersindicating a number of matched characters between respective digits ofthe plurality of numbers, which becomes a criterion for judging that apaper sheet recognized by the image processing unit/characterrecognizing unit is not a counterfeit note, and when the number ofmatched characters between respective digits of the numbers is equal toor larger than the reference number of matched characters, themultiple-numbers matching function judges that the paper sheetrecognized by the image processing unit/character recognizing unit isnot a counterfeit note.
 9. The paper sheet processing apparatusaccording to claim 6, further comprising a counterfeit note numbermemory that stores counterfeit note numbers, which are numbers ofcounterfeit paper sheets, wherein the matching unit has a counterfeitnote-number matching function for judging whether the paper sheet is acounterfeit note by matching the unique number printed on the papersheet recognized by the image processing unit/character recognizing unitwith the counterfeit note numbers in the counterfeit note number memory.10. The paper sheet processing apparatus according to claim 9, whereinthe authentication conditions stored in the authentication conditionmemory comprise a reference number of matched characters indicating anumber of matched characters between respective digits of thecounterfeit note numbers and a number printed on the paper sheet, whichbecomes a criterion for judging that the paper sheet recognized by theimage processing unit/character recognizing unit is a counterfeit note,and when the number of matched characters between the unique numberprinted on the paper sheet recognized by the image processingunit/character recognizing unit and the counterfeit note numbers in thecounterfeit note number memory is equal to or larger than the referencenumber of matched characters, the counterfeit note-number matchingfunction judges that the paper sheet is a counterfeit note.
 11. Thepaper sheet processing apparatus according to claim 5, furthercomprising a font-recognition information memory that stores fontrecognition information in which a font used for the unique numberprinted on a genuine paper sheet is associated with a kind of the papersheet, wherein a character recognition function of the image processingunit/character recognizing unit further comprises a function for judgingwhether a font of the recognized unique number printed on the papersheet is different from font recognition information corresponding tothe kind of a paper sheet in the font-recognition information memory.12. The paper sheet processing apparatus according to claim 11, whereinthe authentication conditions stored in the authentication conditionmemory comprise font difference information indicating whether todiscriminate between a font of the paper sheet to be authenticated andthat of a genuine paper sheet for a recognizing process performed by thecharacter recognition function using the information stored in thefont-recognition information memory.